Editor: British Columbia is dispensable to Justin Trudeau. The evidence is clear.
1. When considering the Energy East pipeline, there was substantial resistance in Quebec, right in Trudeau’s backyard. The solution was simple: change the National Energy Board mandate to include consideration of upstream and downstream environmental impact. That killed Energy East.
2. No such requirement was ever put in place for Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline. If it had been subject to the same criteria, the project would be dead.
3. Quebec is essential to the Trudeau Liberals if they wish to retain power. Those dozen seats in B.C.? Not so much.
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the math — or the politics — in this scenario. The fact is that British Columbia is dispensable.
With all the talk about what’s in the national interest it’s evident that British Columbia’s interests really don’t matter. Meanwhile, the silence from those dozen Liberal MPs in defence of their province has been deafening. Are you there, John Aldag?
S.A. McBride,
Victoria
